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Produced with Nebbiolo grapes from one of the highest plots in the area, at over 500 meters above sea level.

This is an elegant Nebbiolo - fresh and fruity with simple tannins (thanks to the white calcareous soil) and good minerality.

No oak. Aged on the lees for 4 months in Stainless Steel Tan

Fresh, fruity, mineral.
Pierin Valetta is one of the ancestor of the Family and these wines are dedicated to him as we would like to thank him for giving us vineyards that reach up to 70 years old.

Made from 20 years old vines planted on Limestone soils. 
No Oak. The wine was aged on the lees for 4 months in Stainless Steel Tanks. 
Wine was slightly filtered before bottling.

While Pieter Cuythoff humbly named the valley after his patron, Jan van Riebeeck, Riebeek Cellars feels it is only fitting that this wine, which expresses the best of its valley, should carry the name of its founder. So, in honor of Mr. Cruythoff, this range of fine wine bears his name.

Bright red berry notes and a hint of spice is balanced by a luxurious texture & an elegant, lingering, dry finish.

The Chardonnay & Pinot Noir grapes are crushed together. To ensure an array of layered fruit flavors and to capture freshness, we use only free run juice from the crushed grapes. The juice is cold fermented with selected Champagne yeast, blend with a touch of ‘spicy’ Shiraz and then left on the gross lees for 6 months where it undergoes malolactic fermentation and develops the distinct sparkling wine flavors. After the wine is stabilized and filtered it is bottled with CO2 for a Charmat style sparkling wine.

Perfect with a variety of dishes including rich chocolate desserts.

THE LEGEND

Dispatched by Jan van Riebeek in search of the perfect place to grow provisions for the Dutch East India Company, Pieter Cruythoff stumbled upon a beautiful valley. But it was more than just the scenic beauty of this valley that had caught his eye; situated in the lee of the majestic Kasteelberg, the winters were mild, the summers were hot and the soil was uncommonly fertile. What's more, ships spotted from the lookout point on Kasteelberg were just a day away from Cape Town, and so were the wagons that went to meet them, laden with the treasures of  the Riebeek Valley.

TIMELESS JEWELS

While he humbly named the valley after his patron, Jan van Riebeek, we feel it is only fitting that our valley's most coveted treasure should carry the name of its founder. So, in honour of Pieter Cruythoff, this range of fine wine bears his name.

From the vibrant whites to the seductive reds, each one is a gem gently coaxed from the fertile soil of that same magical valley. Ironically, much of the valley's bounty still finds its way to Europe, and in particular to the Netherlands, the land of Cruythoff's birth. 

Grape Varietals: Touriga Nacional (60%), Tinta Roriz/Tempranillo (25%) and Touriga Franca (15%)

Quinta de Fafide estate is located on the outskirts of São João da Pesqueira, at an altitude between 550 and 650 meters. The grapes are generally harvested in October, with the altitude allowing them to ripen without water stress. Extremely fresh, this wine shows the freshness of the grapes. A very intense, elegant aroma where red berry and plum jam dominate, perfectly balanced with notes from ageing in new American oak barrels. Excellent tannins on the palate, with a long and lasting finish.

ORIGIN: Grapes exclusively from the estate, Schist soil, located around São João da Pesqueira, at an average altitude of 550 meters, with mainly exposure to East / South.

VINIFICATION: Hand-picked grapes, were fully destemmed and immediatly crushed. The grapes were fermented by grape variety with rigorous selection, so the final blend was what we wanted. This is the Old World of making wine, by selecting grapes by vineyard and lots in the winery. Fermentation in small stainless steel vats, with temperatures around 28 ºC. Smooth and controlled maceration, to get elegant and aromatic wines.

AGEING: Part of the wine ages 12 months in second and third use American oak barrels.

APPELLATION: DOC Douro
ALCOHOL: 14%
pH 3,59
TOTAL ACIDITY: 5,0 g/dm
TOTAL SUGARS: 0,6 g/dm

Serve with red meat, game, strong cheeses, spicy meat dishes.

Riebeek Sauvignon Blanc is 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc.

Made in a definite herbaceous style, this Sauvignon Blanc also offers tropical undertones of gooseberries that add fruit to the palate. Well-balanced with zesty acidity; fresh & crisp.

Treated as reductively as possible. Juice settled for 2 weeks at -4 Celsius to give green lees contact. Blocks fermented separately to ensure a complex flavor profile after blending. After fermentation was completed, various wines were blended to obtain the best characteristics of each wine.

Very refreshing on its own and lovely with crisp salads, light seafood dishes, tapas, steamed green asparagus and aioli.

Terre dei Buth Frizzante Rose Special Cuvee NV is made from 90% Glera and 10% Raboso.

Fresh, fruity with hints of gooseberry and redcurrant.

On top of being "Certified Organic", this is also "Vegan Approved".

Glera and Raboso are blended before foaming process into what we call "Special Cuvée", for its outstanding drinkability and delicate scents. Glera, which is the variety used to make Prosecco, brings the liveliness of the most famous Italian sparkling wine to this cuvée, which reaches perfection thanks to Raboso, which is an indigenous red grape of the Venetian region, well-known for its hints of red berries and smooth taste.

The grapes are coming from vines planted on gravelly soils.
Average age of the vines is about 10 years old. 
Grapes are machine-harvested, so that the grapes are pressed about 10 minutes after picking,allowing to preserve the freshness of the fruit, and avoiding micro-fermentation that would take place by leaving the grapes for too much time in the vineyard after picking.
Each grape variety is harvested and vinified individually.
After picking, grapes are soft-pressed, and the primary fermentation is completed in about 10 days. Then fermentation takes place for 5-6 months, where the cuvée reaches the appropriate level of acidity for foaming, which is performed in stainless steel tanks, thermo-conditioned, for about 20-25 days.

Pasta, pizza and summer salads.

Review:

medium-length finish displaying accents of peach gummi bear, edible flowers, dole fruit cup juice, and gooseberry. A more serious take on Glera with the body and richness to pair with diverse cuisines."

- Beverage Testing Institute (November 2022), 90 pts - Gold Medal - Best Buy

The Grade Cellar Kingly Project Cabernet Sauvignon is made from Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. 

"This is a noble expression of Cabernet Sauvignon"  in full regalia, with decadent aromas and a mouthfeel viscous and sleek. "This vintage of the Kingly Project Cabernet Sauvignon enters the scene"  -- Thomas Rivers Brown

Review:

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Kingly Vineyard is endowed with tremendous richness and concentration. It emerges from the best spots within Block 5, which is a bit more protected from the elements. The 2018 is a bit closed today, but it has a lot of promise. Time in the glass brings out layers of inky dark fruit and the savory, minerally notes that are such signatures. This potent Calistoga Cabernet needs time to shine, but it is impressive today just the same.

-Vinous 96 Points

The Grade Cellar Kingly Project Cabernet Sauvignon is made from Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. 

"This is a noble expression of Cabernet Sauvignon"  in full regalia, with decadent aromas and a mouthfeel viscous and sleek. "This vintage of the Kingly Project Cabernet Sauvignon enters the scene"  -- Thomas Rivers Brown

Review:

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Kingly Vineyard is endowed with tremendous richness and concentration. It emerges from the best spots within Block 5, which is a bit more protected from the elements. The 2018 is a bit closed today, but it has a lot of promise. Time in the glass brings out layers of inky dark fruit and the savory, minerally notes that are such signatures. This potent Calistoga Cabernet needs time to shine, but it is impressive today just the same.

-Vinous 96 Points

Thorn Clarke Milton Park Chardonnay grapes were crushed, destemmed and then pressed using a membrane press. Pressings were not used. Fermented using French Yeast at 12-15 degrees Celcius. The ferment was kept slow and cool to retain all the natural flavors of the grape. The wine was then racked and filtered. Bottling took place soon afterwards so the wine was a true expression of the grape and the terroir from which it was made.

The color is a rich vibrant green. The nose shows lifted clean, sweet fruit of apricot and peach. The palate is medium to full bodied and exhibits predominantly peach and nectarine flavors, with cloves and cardamom evident from the use of a small amount of French oak. The wine finishes full and long with a nice balance of sweet fruit and creaminess.

Thorn Clarke Shotfire GSM is made from 51% Grenache, 39% Shiraz, 10% Mourvedre. 

The Shotfire range honors a family pioneer who worked the Barossa goldfields in the late 1800's. He had the hazardous job of being a 'Shotfirer'; one who handled the explosives to be used in finding that rich vein of gold.

A classic blend of the traditional stalwarts from the Barossa, this blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre is sourced from older low yielding vines.

Each variety was destemmed and fermented separately - in small 6 tonne open fermenters - to allow full expression of varietal character. To ensure optimum extraction of tannins, color and flavor the Grenache was pumped over twice daily for a duration of 10 days and both the Shiraz and Mourvedre spent 7 days on skins with pump overs twice daily. Fermentation temperatures were maintained between 22-25 degrees to retain fruit purity. All batches were pressed off and once both primary alcoholic fermentation and secondary malolactic fermentation were complete the wines were then racked to new (10%) and 10 year old French hogsheads where the wines matured for a period of 18 months. Bench blends were created to ensure a harmonious final wine.

Pairs best with slow Cooked Lamb or Roasted Vegetable Medley.

Review:

"A generous Barossa red, this is gentle to the touch, impressive in the 2020 vintage. Blending grenache and shiraz with a little mataro, this starts of in the grip of the tarry tannins, then opens to floral fruit, the tannins and fruit seamlessly melted, like the taste of peppery strawberries. Pour it with lamb burgers. - Joshua GREENE"

- Wine & Spirits (Spring 2024), 93 pts , Best Buy

SALE!

Thorn Clarke Shotfire Shiraz is made from 100% Shiraz. 

Striking deep red-purple in color. A rich, voluptuous wine with aromas of blackcurrant and mulberries accompanied by notes of smokey oak and hints of cloves. The palate is filled with dark fruits and chocolate backed up by taut tannins and lingering oak.

Review:

This is an attractively spicy wine on the nose with red, blue and black berries all in play, as well as an earthy edge and tarry elements. Some perfume, too. The palate has quite a deep-set, blue and black-fruit core with a long, sturdy palate that holds flavor and focus well. Drink or hold. Screw cap."

- James Suckling (November 2021), 92 pts

"Destemmed, pressed approximately 7 days later, 14 months in American oak (40% new). Rich, layered, mocha/chocolate overtones to the black berry fruits are obvious."
-  Halliday Wine Companion (August 2020), 92 pts

Story:

When the Clarke forebearers discovered gold in 1870 at the Lady Alice mine in the Barossa goldfields, so began a family dynasty intrigued by geology. A fine legacy that is reflected today in the terroir of our vineyards. The Shotfire range immortalizes the Shotfirer's hazardous job of setting and lighting the charges in the mines.

Fran shares his story on how he discovered Thorn-Clarke:
     "It was October 2001 and I was searching for and sourcing for Australian wines, as it was clear that Australia was going to become the "next big thing." After tasting about 100 assorted wines, I decided I liked the style of Barossa, Shiraz best - chocolate, cherries, mint and eucalyptus - so I started focusing on Barossa growers (years later, Barossa Shiraz would develop its reputation as the Icon Shiraz for Australia).
     Late on a Thursday afternoon, the carrier delivered a beat-up box of 12 bottles from Australia, 10 of which were leaking. The box was from a guy named Steve Machin, who had just left Hardy's and was beginning work with the Clarke family on setting up a possible new brand. The samples were sticky and messy, but I popped the corks anyway ..... and I was glad that I did. The wine inside tasted like Christmas - mint, eucalyptus, camphor, and evergreen aromas. Great acidity, color, flavor and length of finish - very tasty. These samples were so good and so exciting, especially compared to what I had tasted prior, that I immediately called the number on the card. I didn't realize that it was a Perth number (Western Australia) and it was actually 3:00 in the morning. It turned out I was calling the residence of David and Cheryl Clarke, where a sleepy Cheryl answered the phone. I told her, you don't know who I am, but we are going to be doing business together very soon, and lots of it! After a few months of talking, faxing (yes, faxing) and sorting out the details, I began importing their wines.
     That super-star wine from the busted box of samples is the wine we know today as Shotfire Shiraz. It was originally called Stone Jar, but fortunately we came up with a better name. Many years and vintages later, I'm still glad to be importing Shotfire Shiraz and other Thorn-Clarke selections .... and I'm still glad that Cheryl Clarke woke up for that phone call."

Ruby in colour with purple hues.  Brimming with bright fruit notes of wild strawberries & cherry and backed up by subtle spice of white pepper.  On the palate, the fruit continues with further notes of raspberries and plum with a hint of French oak.  A juicy medium bodied red that has a delicate and complex finish.

This wine has had partial whole bunch fermentation in 4 tonne open fermenters for a duration of 10 days on skins. The wine was then pressed off to 15% New French oak barrels and matured for 18 months prior to being racked for bottling. This wine has had no filtration.

The 2018 growing season had all the hallmarks of a classic vintage.  Consistent warm temperatures produced perfect conditions for our red varieties to ripen.  This along with good winter rains and a dry harvest period resulted in wines with great depth of varietal flavours, excellent tannin structure and colour along with a long balanced finish.  Reds from 2018 will age well due to their intense concentration and power.

Review:

"A grower-sourced grenache from older-vine material (two parcels, 70 and 90-year-old) on the Nuriootpa sands, this has a very attractive nose with blood-orange and red-berry fruit, as well as plum and some gently earthy elements. A little sappy edge adds interest. The palate has a deliciously detailed feel with concentrated, supple red-plum and cherry flavors on offer. So delicious now. Screw cap."

- James Suckling (November 2021), 93 pts

Thorn Clarke Terra Barossa Shiraz is made from 100 percent Shiraz

Comments

Deep purple red. Aromas of ripe plums, cherries and earth with subtle notes of vanilla and cloves. The aromas follow through onto the palate with a fruit focus, subtle oak notes and soft, rounded tannins. The wine walks the line between medium and full bodied with a plush mouthfeel.

Vinification Notes

The grapes are crushed and de-stemmed into fermenters. Yeast is added immediately once in fermenter and the ferments are pumped over twice daily to maximise colour, tannin and flavour extraction. Cooling is used to ensure ferment temperatures remain in the 22-25 degree celcius range which will allow the fruit to display maximum fruit expression. Pressing then occurs approximately seven days after crushing and the  wine is then put into predominately American oak to mature.

Review:

"This is a gently spicy shiraz with aromas of red berries and plums, gentle spice and a little perfume and spiced pastry, too. The palate has a supple and fleshy feel with bright and ripe red to dark-berry flavors. Soft, plump tannins. Drink now. Screw cap."

-James Suckling 91 Points 

Trouillard Elexium Rose Brut NV rosé cuvée is made with 100% Pinot Noir grapes and aged for 3 years on the lees. The color is a seductive salmon pink with fine bubbles. The Pinot Noir gives this fruity wine its rich bouquet of raspberries and fresh-baked bread. On the palate it is rich yet balanced with lashings of red-berry fruitiness and an ephemeral creaminess. An enormously popular and versatile rosé, this wine is perfect with roast game birds or fowl, smoked salmon and creamy cheeses. 

ELEXIUM stands for: 
          *EL for ELegence
          *EX for EXcellence
          *IUM- for Optimum and Summum

Review:

"This lovely Champagne displays a light copper salmon color and aromas of brioche, toasted nuts and herbs. It displays a creamy mousse and a soft creamy mouth feel with hints of strawberry jam and scones."

i-winereview.com (The World of Rose Report, June 2018), 90 pt

Aalto P.S. Pagos Seleccionados Tinto  is made from 100 percent Tempranillo.

Climatic conditions

The farming year began with a mild autumn and little precipitation. A very dry winter started with -9ºC reaching at the end higher temperatures than normal for that time of the year. Spring and summer characterized by little rain, only some rain showers in July and late August avoided the hydric stress of the vines. The vegetative cycle of the vine developed with big variations of temperatures, alternating warm and atypical low temperatures of 4ºC for mid-June. The ripening of the grapes happened under very good conditions and the harvest started on 24th September 2019.  

Grape origin

100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) primarily from very old vines – 60 to 90 years old – from selected plots in La Horra and La Aguilera. The harvest was done by hand, in small boxes of 15 kilos that are thoroughly inspected, bunch by bunch, on the selection table.  

Tasting notes

Review:

Lots of depth here, with ripe blackberries and some nicely baked black cherries, roasted herbs, incense, dark spices, mussels and a balsamic tinge. An admirably fine dollop of tannins on the palate, which are immaculate and juicy, as they thoroughly dunk into the black fruit, melting into a persistent finish that lasts for over a minute. Very impressive. Drink or hold.

-James Suckling 96 Points

Alain de la Treille Muscadet Sevre et Maine is made from 100 percent 100% Melon de Bourgogne

This great dry white wine offers a unique style with a fine and delicate minerality... Beautiful tension on the palate followed by hints of flower, melon and lime, that finishes with a refreshing crispness.

MAISON ALAIN DE LA TREILLE is located in the heart of Loire Valley since 1885. Vineyards owner and winemaker, ALAIN DE LA TREILLE creates diverse and delicate wines on the most prestigious vineyards: Muscadet, Touraine, Vouvray, Sancerre...

Average age of the vines is 20 years old.

We produce a part of this cuvee with 12 hours skin maceration and another part from directly pressed grapes

Wine was slightly filtered before bottling to ensure wine will remain stable.

Ideal with all fishes, seafood and for sure oysters but do not hesitate to match it as well with a great goat cheese.

Alain de la Treille Muscadet Sevre et Maine is made from 100 percent 100% Melon de Bourgogne

This great dry white wine offers a unique style with a fine and delicate minerality... Beautiful tension on the palate followed by hints of flower, melon and lime, that finishes with a refreshing crispness.

MAISON ALAIN DE LA TREILLE is located in the heart of Loire Valley since 1885. Vineyards owner and winemaker, ALAIN DE LA TREILLE creates diverse and delicate wines on the most prestigious vineyards: Muscadet, Touraine, Vouvray, Sancerre...

Average age of the vines is 20 years old.

We produce a part of this cuvee with 12 hours skin maceration and another part from directly pressed grapes

Wine was slightly filtered before bottling to ensure wine will remain stable.

Ideal with all fishes, seafood and for sure oysters but do not hesitate to match it as well with a great goat cheese.

Alain de la Treille Muscadet Sevre et Maine is made from 100 percent 100% Melon de Bourgogne

This great dry white wine offers a unique style with a fine and delicate minerality... Beautiful tension on the palate followed by hints of flower, melon and lime, that finishes with a refreshing crispness.

MAISON ALAIN DE LA TREILLE is located in the heart of Loire Valley since 1885. Vineyards owner and winemaker, ALAIN DE LA TREILLE creates diverse and delicate wines on the most prestigious vineyards: Muscadet, Touraine, Vouvray, Sancerre...

Average age of the vines is 20 years old.

We produce a part of this cuvee with 12 hours skin maceration and another part from directly pressed grapes

Wine was slightly filtered before bottling to ensure wine will remain stable.

Ideal with all fishes, seafood and for sure oysters but do not hesitate to match it as well with a great goat cheese.

Alain de la Treille Pinot Noir is beautifully balanced with an elegant ruby robe. The mouth is velvety with black cherry aromas.

Average age of the vines: 25 years.

Classic red vinification and Maturation in stainless steel vats.
Malolactic fermentation.
Wine is filtered before bottling.

It delights those who prefer drinking red wine with fish and is an ideal partner with charcuterie, white meats and mild cheeses.

Alain de la Treille Rose d'Anjou is made from 50% Gamay, 50% Grolleau

The Rosé d'Anjou AOC, also known as Anjou Rosé AOC, produces medium-sweet rosés. Wines are made predominantly from Grolleau, with percentages of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Malbec and Pineau d'Aunis permitted. Anjou soils reflect the geological identity of its border position between Armorican and Parisian basins. The terroirs consist of metamorphic and crystalline rocks (schist, sandstone) known as Anjou Noir, and ‘Terres Blanches’ (white earth) limestone known as Anjou Blanc. The AOC covers 1,890 hectares (4,668 acres).

The Grolleau grape derives its name from the French word ‘grolle’, meaning crow – a reflection of the dark black color of the grapes.

Crisp and refreshing with vibrant aromas of strawberry and raspberry. Juicy and well-balanced with a long finish.

Selective juice extraction to preserve color & aromas. Temperature controlled fermentation is followed by aging on the fine lees. No malolactic fermentation; no oak.

To be served chilled (10°C/50°F) with barbecued meats, salads, any spicy food, poultry dishes and of course appetizers.

Antica Vigna Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva is made from 65% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 10% Corvinone, 5% Merlot.

Amarone DOCG has maintained unchanged its typicality, so that “the essence of the territory” of Valle di Mezzane and Cazzano di Tramigna powerfully emerges. Rich in color, firmly structured but with fresh notes. 

WINEMAKING AND AGING:

Manual harvest early October with selection of the best bunches.
Drying: natural drying in fruit cellar for 3/4 months with a sharp drop in weight of around 30%.
Vinification: soft crushing of destemmed grapes in the months of January and February.
Fermentation: at a controlled temperature of 18/21°C. Fermentation time: about 30 days
Aging:· 80% in oak barrels for 30 months of which 2/3 in American and French barriques, half of which are used for the second and third time, 1/3 in large

THE TERRITORY:
Geographical location: Tenuta di Mezzane, Tenuta di Cazzano di Tramigna
Height: 350/400 meters asl
Exposure: south
Soil type: limestone
Vineyard training system: guyot and pergola
Vine planting year: from 1972 to 2009
Vine density: 4,000 to 5,400 vines per hectare Vineyard management: sustainable agriculture and great attention to natural
cycles

Pairs well with grilled and roasted meats, as well as cheese.

Timeless Notes:

Dark cherry in color, firm on the palate with a vibrant acidity underbelly.  Thought lush on the palate the flavors are complex and elegant from entry to mid-palate with hints of currant and wild berries. The finish brings in a touch of tobacco and leather notes ,classic examples of this region, with more ripe fruit flavors that linger on long strain tannin finish.   Complex with depth and elegance on the palate.  This one is drinking now, but can handle more time in the cellar with ease. An excellent value in the Riserva category.

Belle Glos Chardonnay Glasir Holt Vineyard is made from 100 percent Chardonnay

Positioned near the ocean on California's Central Coast, the Glasir Holt Vineyard sits on the western edge of Santa Rita Hills. Although Wagner’s intentions were to grow Pinot Noir on this vineyard, a small portion of the land had an enticing chalky-like characteristic to the soil, primarily due to the high PH level and its calcareous nature. Always one to rise to a new challenge, Wagner wanted to try something new and plant Chardonnay vines. Due to the maritime impact of the ocean, cool days, and cooler nights, he was able to grow this beautiful, mineral-driven Chardonnay, resulting in a classic, elegant style of wine, mirroring the rest of the Belle Glos portfolio.

“No other vineyard that we have farmed throughout California’s coast could match the character and quality of the Chardonnay at Glasir Holt,” says Joe Wagner. “It is a more than an exceptional place and it shows in the grapes and in the wine. With the winemaking, we took a very traditional approach to allow for the purist expression of what Mother Nature gave us, which was a glaringly articulate embodiment of the soil and climate. So much so, that I could not deny its place as a vineyard designate to sit alongside it’s Belle Glos brethren.”

In the cellar, the whole clusters were lightly pressed to separate all the solids and juice before sitting for about 24 hours. The liquid then went through a native yeast fermentation prior to fermenting in 10% concrete tanks and 90% new French oak barrels. During the fermentation process, malolactic fermentation occurred, which elevated the body of the wine, while the remaining lees were stirred once a week. The wine was aged for 12 months before it was put into bottle to be enjoyed by all!